Growing up, my family’s norm was the unpredictability of chronic illness. The question of whether my mom would have a “good MS day,” (denoted by having enough energy to be showered and dressed, participate in conversation, and feed herself), or a “bad MS day,” (see: the opposite) lingered in the air each night.

This made making plans more than challenging, and it made me, from the earliest age I can recall, aware that health and energy it affords aren’t guaranteed. 

From my perspective, health is the ultimate gift and responsibility. It is both my biggest blessing to be in good health, and it is my responsibility to do all I can to protect my physical and spiritual health.

In short, I am present to, and absurdly grateful for, my vitality. The totality of our health, vitality is the physical abilities of our bodies combined with the potency of our life force.

When we’re able to physically carry out our goals, we have vitality. When we feel healthy and well enough to continually look for ways to optimize our lives, we have vitality. And in those rare and fleeting moments when we manage to align our whole selves–physical, mental, and spiritual–the euphoric pulse we feel is our vitality.

This month, I hope you’ll join me in giving thanks daily for whatever energy and health each of us possesses. As summer blooms, I hope we’ll do all that’s within our power to care for ourselves well: incorporate movement, consider how we nourish ourselves, drink good water, breathe clean air, spend time with people who expand our sense of time, and engage in activities that fill our energy reserves. All of this is the least we can do to celebrate being alive.